I can't offer a comparison because, like you, I searched this forum for recommendations and ended up buying a new Mackissic Mighty Mac 12PT10. It was expensive, but I really do love it.

I've had it for over a year and I've learned its idiosyncrasies. Wet stuff will need dry stuff added to prevent the hammermill from clogging. The belt needs to be monitored to keep it tight. Other than that, it's a beast. It chips branches up to 3.5", and it shreds very nicely.

I have an acre with vegetable beds and with enough trees for this to be a useful device. I'm actually looking forward to fall clean-up so that I can produce another pile of mulch/compost. One nice discovery is the use of ramial mulch produced by this device, an unexpected bonus.

The Mackissic has useful features like reversible hammers that allow you to turn the hammers around to get fresh, sharp edges for the hammermill. Mine is on a four wheel cart that I hook up to my lawn tractor to move it to a worksite. I lay down a tarp when it's on the lawn and grind up a bunch of stuff, then it goes directly to where it gets composted or used as mulch.

I would consider a Crary Bearcat as an alternative to this level of chipper/shredder. I do see Mackissics on Craigslist from time to time, but the availability is better in the spring than the fall.